Convertible game-board.



No. 718,290. BATENTED JAN. v1'3, 1903.

, N. B. STONE. l

CONVERTIBLE GAME BoABB.

APBLIUATION FILED JULY 26. 1902, No'MopEL.

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' FIG. 5` 9 v 2 110,718,290. -A PATENTEEJAN.13,.1903. l y N. E. STONE.

CONVERTIBLE GAME 13o-ARD.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY26, 1902.

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Unire NATIIANIEL B. STONE, OF OUTLOOK, WASHINGTON.

CONVERTIBLE GAME-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,290, dated January 13, 1903.

Application led July 26, 1902. Serial No. 117,170. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL B. STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Outlook, in the county of Yakima and State of Washington, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Convertible Game- Boards, of which the following-is a speciication.

The object of my said invention is to provide a board whereon can be played a game or games of interesting character, which may be readily and conveniently converted into another useful article when not in use as a game-board; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts whereby a board of this Vcharacter is provided which shall be of comparative small expense to construct and convenient to convert from one use to the other, all as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed. y

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a top o`r plan view of a gameboard of my improved construction, the parts being arranged as when adapted for use in playing a game; Fig. 2, alongitudinal section through the same on the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a cross-section looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a similar View looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dottedline 4 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a detail section lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a perspective View of the board in'folded position, forming a hall-tree or hat-rack in general outline representing a monument, a representationoftheWashingtonMonumentbeingintended; Fig. 7, an under side plan view of the board infolded position removed from the base; Fig. 8, a top or plan view of said base; Fig. 9, a cross-section on the dottedline 9 9 in Fig. 6; Fig. 10, a detail view similar to one corner of Fig. 9, but on anenlarged scale; Fig.f11, a detail section as on the dotted line 11 11 in Fig. 7, showing the connection between the body of the hall-rack and its base; Fig. 12, a detail vertical section through the top of the hall-rack or monument, showing the construction Whereby the upper ends of the folding sections are held together; and Figs. 18, 14, and 15, detail views illustrating the form of fastening devices for securing supplemental top and foot rails to the game-board.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the four main sections of the board, B the detachable tailpiece, and C the wardrobe-hooks attached to the outside.

The board is composed, as shown, of four main sections A, formed somewhat wider at their lower than at their upper ends and hinged together at their adjacent edges, as

most clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, by hinges a, set into the faces of the adjacent edges to be iiush therewith. Said adjacent edges are formed tapered at an angle of forty-five degrecs, so that when folded together the structure will be rectangular in cross-section. A strip A', formed tofit between the edges of boards A, is hinged at one edge to the top of one ofthe adjacent faces by means of a hinge a', also embedded to be Hush with the surface ofsaid face. j By this means when the boards A are opened to the iat position the strip A will fold down into the corresponding groove between said boards and form a smooth top surface for the game-board. Clamps A2, in the form of bars with hooks on their ends adapted to engage the outside edges of the board, are mounted on said board at intervals throughout its length when in open position, being placed upon the board at a point where the hooks will pass over said outside edges and then be forced downwardly toward the wider part until they engage said edges firmly. l By this means the several sections composing the board are tightly clamped together, so as to' form a perfectly smooth top surface, and are given a firm and rigid support in cross-section, the

Abars being formed straight and of sufficient rigidity to secure this result. v boards are each formed with a side rail A3,

The outside IOO prevent the balls used in playing the game from being accidentally knocked off the board, and the proper folding of the parts is not interfered with. A series of rigid pins 1 are arranged on each side of the center of the board, extending in a longitudinal direction, preferably mounted in the center of the two central boards A. Said pins are preferably covered with leather, rubber, or similar material and constitute buffers against which the balls may strike in playing the game, either forthe purpose of guiding them through the central passage-Way or deflecting them, as the player may desire. Throughout the length of the two outer strips A are arranged a series of pockets or rests 2, which are'adapted to catch and retain the ball when coming in contact therewith properly. Adjacent to the side rails A3 are arranged another series of pins 3, forming pockets to receive and retain the playing-ball. A top rail A4 is removably mounted across the upper end of the board, being secured thereto by means of perforations d4, which engage with pins a5, projecting upwardly from the boards A. Said pins are formed with a neck near their upper ends, and a locking-plate A5, formed with akeyhole-shaped slot, mounted to slide in a way in said rail A4, is adapted to engage with said neck and lock said rail to said pin in the well-known manner and as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, and 15. Said plates A5 are held in said ways in the rail by downturned tlanges,which also serve as means for sliding them back and forth to lock and unlock the rails, as will be readily understood. A spring-wire or rod l is mounted in the center of said rail and bent over and downwardly substantially in the form of an inverted U and has a sphere 5 mounted to rotate on its inner end, for a purpose to be presently described. The lower end of the board has a series of cast-metal clips AG mounted thereon, formed to slip over the ends of the boards and having an outwardly-projecting part et, adapted to serve as a foot or rest to support the lower end of the board; also, a forwardlyprojecting finger a7 on the under side, adapted to serve as a retaining-loop to receive and retain the clamping-bar A2. On the upper side of said casting a short transverse bar as and forwardly-projecting fingers a9 are also formed. Said transverse bars as are tapered at an angle of forty-five degrees on their adjacent edges to permit the structure to fold. (See Fig. '7.) The projecting fingers a9 serve to form pockets on the front side of the lower rail to receive and retain the balls in playing the game. Additional rails Arr are mounted on the top of the portions as and are formed with V-shaped projections on their under sides to fit between the angles of the adjacent edges of said parts a8, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Said rails are mounted on each side of a central way A8 (see Fig. 3) between the two parts of the lower rail, through which the projectile or ball may be driven.

Said

rails A7 are removably secured in place by the same means employed in securing the rail A4, as above described, and :illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 of the drawings, and as indicated in Fig. 3.

The tailpiece B formsa continuation of the central way in the game-board bounded by the pins 1 and is ofv any suitable form, having side rails b and a rest b near its lower end to support the ball 7 in position for a play. Said tailpiece is secured in position by a hook-shaped clip b2, secured on each of its side rails at the upper end and adapted toengage with the upper edge of the lower crossrail of the board.

rThe wardrobe-hooks C are of a special form adapted to furnish a rest or footc to support the upper end of the board at the proper elevation, and also a projecting finger c', which is adapted to serve as a clip to secure and retain the upper clamping-bar A2. An upper series of hooks C upon each of which a shelf C2provided with downwardly-extending arms c2 may be mounted, said arms being adapted to straddle the hook and engage behind the buttons c3 thereon.

In folded position the device is mounted upon a base A9, of a form which may be used as a stool when the upper portion is removed therefrom. In the top of said base are formed a Series of keyhole-shaped slots d10, and a series of buttons au, projecting from the lower side of casting A6,are adapted to engage therewith and when turned to a position at right angles with said base lock the upper structure securely thereto.

In use, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1 for use as a game-board and it being desired to convert it into the hall-rack illustrated in Fig. 6, the upper and lower end rails A4 and A7, the tailpiece B, and the clampingbars A2 are removed, when the strips A' may be folded over onto the board A to which they are hinged, when said several parts A may be folded together, their outer edges meeting, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, being locked together by a catch am, provided for the purpose. The cap-piece A10 is then put over the top of the structure, which holds said upper end securely together and gives the appearance of a monument thereto. The folded structure is then placed upon the base with the buttons au projecting through the large end of slots d10 and given a sufficient turn to bring the sides of said structure square with the sides of said Ibase, when the heads of said buttons will engage under the narrow portions of said slots and lock the two parts securely together. A drawer A:u is provided in the base, which may serve as a place to store the separable parts.

A variety of games may be played upon the game-board, as will be readily understood. I have shown a bell 6 at each end of the upper cross-bar A4, and one of the games which I have devised for playing upon the board will consist of placing the ball 7 against the rest IOO IIO

b at the lower end of the tailpiece b and projecting it with a mallet or cue to strike the pivoted sphere 5 on the lower end of spring 4, so as to deflect the projectile against one or the other of the bells to ring the same, which will constitute the most difficult play of the game and the best score. The various pockets formed by the pins l, 2, and 3 as arranged upon the board and also the pockets 7, 8, and 9 on the front side of the lower rail will be properly numbered and count in the game according to the rules which may be provided therefor. The tailpiece B may be omitted in some of the games, and various modifications in the detailed arrangements may be made without departing from my said invention.

Having thus fully described my said in vention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A game-board formed of several sections hinged together at their adjacent edges, which edges are tapered whereby the sections may be folded into a hollow structure, and angular pieces adapted to fit into the angular recesses formed by tapering the edges of said sections, whereby a smooth surface is provided when the table is open, substantially as set forth.

2. A game board comprising sections hinged together at their adjacent edges and adapted to fold into a rectangular hollow structure, a base formed to support said hollow structure when folded, means for removcap-piece adapted to tit onto the top of said folded hollow structure, substantially as setforth. j

3. A game-board formed of sections hinged together at their adjacent edges, which edges are formed tapered, an angular strip mounted between said tapered edges to form a smooth surface to the board, and longitudinal side rails and end rails, substantially as set forth.

4. A game board comprising sections hinged together at their adjacent edges and adapted to fold into a hollow structure, longitudinal side rails thereto, and guards on the top of said longitudinal side rails consisting of projecting parts arranged on one rail to pass between those on the other rail, substantially as set forth.

5. A game-board comprising several sections hinged together at their adjacent edges, which edges are formed tapered whereby said sections are adapted to fold into a hollow structure, clamping-bars engaging with the to one of the adjacent tapered edges and adapted to fold into the angle between said edges to form a flush surface, clamping-bars engaging the edges of said board and formed Aout the surface of said board, substantially as set forth. Y

8. A game-board comprising several sections hinged together at their adjacent edges and adapted to fold to form a hollow structure, a removable head-rail and removable foot-rails therefor, a tailpiece adapted to be attached thereto, a way through which the ball for playing the game may be projected formed in said tailpiece and bounded on the board by a series of pins, pockets and scoring devices on said gam e-board, substantially as set forth.

9. A game-board comprising several sections hinged together at their adjacent edges, a rail across its lower end on each side of a central opening composed of sections fixed thereto, and removable sections mounted on said Xed sections, said fixed sections being formed with downwardly-projecting portions which serve as rests or feet for the lower end of said game-board, substantially as set forth.

l0. A gameboard comprising several longitudinal sections hinged together at their adjacent edges and adapted to fold into a hollow structure, engaging devices on the lower ends of said sections, a base formed to re- IOO ceive said engaging devices and support said hollow structure in a vertical position, and a cap-piece adapted to engage the upper endsy tions and formed with portions which extend outwardly to serve as rests or feet to support the board at its upper end when used as a game-board, substantially as set forth.

12. A game-board comprising several sec-v tions hinged together at their adjacent edges and adapted to fold into a hollow structure, a base and a cap-piece for said hollow structure, hooks mounted thereon to serve as supports for the board and clips to receive and retain the clam ping-bars, substantially as set forth.

13. A game-board comprising several sections hinged together at their adjacent'edges and adapted to fold into a hollow structure, a central way extending longitudinally thereof and bounded by rigid pins covered with compressible material, a tailpiece adapted to be attached to said board and having a Way bounded by side rails, a rest for the ball in said tailpiece and suitable pockets and scoring devices arranged in said gaine-board,

substantially as set forth.

let. A gaine-board comprising pockets and retaining devices suitablyarranged 0n its surface, a removable end rail at the upper end of said board, a deleetor rotatably mounted on an arm secured to and carried by said rail,

and bells arranged on either side of said de- 1o leetor, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Washington, District of Columbia, this 19th day of July, A. D. 1902.

NATHANIEL B. STONE. [L 8.]

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, DAVID STUART WANTERS. 

